Anti-Social Behaviour Policy

1. Statement of Policy

Dyfed -Powys Police recognises Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and the fear of ASB can significantly impact individuals and communities, leading to distress, harm, and a diminished quality of life. Dyfed-Powys Police (DPP) acknowledge that early interventions and actions taken to disrupt ASB is a key priority and will make every effort to work with responsible authorities and relevant external agencies to reduce ASB and associated risks, whilst taking a problem-solving approach to repeat occurrences of ASB. 

• Definition

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ASBCP 2014) provides a definition of ASB.

Section 2 provides that anti-social behaviour is defined as.

1. Conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress to any person.
2. Conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises; or
3. Conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person

Categories of anti-social behaviour

• Personal - Refers to behaviour that deliberately targets an individual or group of people, rather than the community.
• Nuisance - Refers to behaviour affecting the wider community, rather than an individual victim.
• Environmental - Refers to behaviour where individuals or groups impact their wider surroundings.

**Although anti-social behaviour(s) often fall into more than one category of ASB.

The purpose of the Dyfed-Powys Anti-Social Behaviour Policy is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and consistency of Dyfed-Powys Police’s response to ASB and ASB related crimes. This will be achieved by:

• Ensuring all appropriate Dyfed-Powys Police public facing employees have sufficient training to identify ASB and ASB related crimes at the first point of contact.
• All officers, staff and volunteers will understand and have access to the ASB Procedure in order to fulfil their responsibilities when dealing with incidents of ASB in order to reduce the risk of harm to victims.
• Undertaking ASB Risk Investigations (or POP Plans when appropriate) to record problem-solving and understand the options available to officers, staff and volunteers to deal with ASB.
• Providing a response to ASB or ASB related crime reports that gives due consideration to ongoing risk through the use of an ASB Risk Assessment whilst considering the circumstances and needs of the victim.
• Use legislation and other tools to assist in developing an effective approach in the prevention and management of ASB.
• Recognising the risk of harm from ASB on individuals, families and the wider community and responding to incidents to protect anyone perceived to be at risk of harm.
• To ensure offenders are held accountable for their actions as well as assisting them to change their behaviour ensuring where possible that they have access to the relevant support.
• Working with our partners to problem solve, achieve sustainable resolutions, and provide effective support and protection to victims and communities.

Dyfed-Powys Police have signed up to the ASB Help Pledge and will support and promote the use of the ASB Case Review process.

 

2. Policy Scope

This policy will be made available for all officers, staff and volunteers to follow during the course of their duties and officers, staff and volunteers will be provided specific procedure guidance. The policy outlines how Dyfed-Powys Police will deal with ASB and ASB related crimes (we will adhere to the National Crime Recording Standards (NCRS) by recording crimes correctly) and should be used by all police officers and police staff, including police volunteers who investigate or take complaints of ASB.

Victims of ASB can be referred to Victim Support for cases that have resulted in a Medium or High ASB Risk Assessment grading – this is facilitated when an ASB Risk Assessment has been completed and a referral is made when a victim consents to the service.

Applies (but not limited) to: All categories of Dyfed-Powys Police officers and staff, whether full-time, part-time, permanent, fixed term, temporary (including agency staff, associates and contractors), seconded staff and volunteers. Police Officers, staff and volunteers accessing and using Force assets and property must have due regard to the contents of this policy.

 

3.  Powers and Policy/Legal Requirements

This policy is covered by numerous supporting internal policies/ procedures.

• Dyfed-Powys Police Graded Response and Deployment policy
• National Standards for Incident Recording
• Dyfed-Powys Police Crime and Incident Recording and Investigation policy
• Dyfed-Powys Police ASB Procedure

The policy also takes into account the requirements under the following legislation:

• Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014
• The Equality Act 2010
• Human Rights Act 1998
• UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
• Data Protection Act 2018
• Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Health and Safety Act 1974
• Crime and Disorder Act 1998
• Public Order Act 1986(sections 4,4a &5)

 

4.  Options and Contingencies

Tactical Delivery

The Basic Command Unit (BCU) Commander and the Chief Inspector are responsible for:

• The knowledge, implementation of relevant procedures, and compliance of this policy with their staff.
• The identification of suitable officers to undertake any specialist training and undertake duties required.

 

The Head of Contact and Incident Management will be responsible for:

• The knowledge, implementation, and compliance of this policy with the staff within the FCC.
• Establishing suitable training that incorporates the needs of those engaged in initial contact with victims.

 

The Chief Inspector lead for the Central Prevention Hub will have responsibility for:

• The knowledge, implementation, and compliance of this policy with their staff.
• Operational oversight.

 

The Sergeant for the Central Prevention Hub will have responsibility for:

• Managing the Divisional ASB TAC Advisors.

 

The Force ASB Lead will have responsibility for:

• Ensuring compliance monitoring.
• Policy and procedure development.
• Ensuring multiagency arrangements are maintained including referrals to Victim support.
• Identifying areas where lessons can be learnt and sharing good practice with NPPT.

 

Officers, staff and volunteers must ensure that they follow this policy and the associated procedure.

 

Operational Delivery

The Neighbourhood Policing & Prevention Teams (NPPT) will have responsibility for:

• Ensuring all ASB problem-solving plans fully specify the problem, contain sufficient details recorded in line with Force procedure.
• Ensuring appropriate Risk Assessments are completed in line with Force timescales to establish the victim’s needs.
• Ensuring the victim is updated by agreed times & contact methods (telephone/text/e-mail).

 

The NPPT Sergeant will have responsibility for:

• Ensuring that reported or detected ASB is recorded in line with Force procedure.
• Ensuring teams are using oSARA effectively in all ASB records.
• Ensuring regular supervision of all ASB records ensuring that the OIC is fulfilling their responsibilities.

ASB PCSO’s (managed by CPH) have responsibility for:

• Ensuring that all ASB records are compliant.
• Ensuring teams are using oSARA effectively in all ASB Risk Investigations.
• Ensuring regular supervision of all ASB Risk Investigation ensuring that the OIC is fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Ensure that guidance and support is sought at the earliest opportunity when unsure how to progress any tasks or challenges.

The BCU NPPT Inspector will have responsibility for:

• Ensuring that reported or detected ASB is recorded in line with Force procedure.
• Ensuring NPPT Sergeants are managing all ASB Risk Investigations with focus on problem solving and in a timely manner.
• Providing monthly updates on all ASB Risk Investigations.

 

Reporting

There are 4 ways in which to report ASB and ASB related crimes to Dyfed-Powys Police:

• Telephone 999/101 to the FCC (Force Communications Centre).
• Online reports through Single Online Home.
• Report to Public Enquiry Officer (PEO) at station.
• Report to frontline officers on patrol.

*Reports can be made directly by victims or on victims’ behalf via a third party.

Reports that require immediate safeguarding action should be dealt with by response officers who will provide the initial safeguarding response. All reports will be

considered using the THRIVE (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability and

Engagement) assessment to establish the level of response required.

 

5.  Take Action and Review

This policy and the associated procedure document will be monitored to ensure that they remain relevant and effective, considering challenges to the policy and any changes to legislation and national guidance.

Monitoring compliance will include evaluating feedback from victims / witnesses through satisfaction surveys.  There will be scrutiny of high-risk reports and reviews of ongoing case management within ASB RI’s and POP.  Encourage use of Learning the Lessons Library by practitioners to share good practice and to record learning.

Reporting will be made internally to the NPPT strategic meeting and the Operational Policing Board.

CODE OF ETHICS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

This policy has been drafted in accordance with the Code of Ethics and has been reviewed on the basis of its content and the supporting evidence and it is deemed compliant with that Code and the principles underpinning it.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

This policy has been drafted in accordance with the Human Rights Act and has been reviewed on the basis of its content and the supporting evidence and it is deemed compliant with that Act and the principles underpinning it.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 sets out the protected characteristics that qualify for protection under the Act as follows: Age; Disability; Gender Reassignment; Marriage and Civil Partnership; Pregnancy and Maternity; Race; Religion or Belief; Sex; Sexual Orientation.

The public sector equality duty places a proactive legal requirement on public bodies to have regard, in the exercise of their functions, to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct that is unlawful under the Act;
• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

The equality duty applies to all protected characteristics with the exception of Marriage and Civil Partnership, to which only the duty to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination applies.

Carrying out an equality impact assessment involves systematically assessing the likely or actual effects of policies on people in respect of all the protected characteristics set out above. An equality impact assessment should be carried out on any policy that is relevant to the public sector equality duty. 

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMPLETED: March 2025